Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1887-08-31

: every instance, to have the affidavit con-
9 form to the law; but all that is required il
d the naked statement OF the applicant, ano
l. just what ne says as to when they were
e killed, in what county, in what Territory
0 and whether outside OF q reservation ol
d park. is to be taken as true. The law does
;. provide that he must have two witnesses
4 who shall make affidavit that they believe
n what he says to be true. The applicant
may be a person OF good character, or the
vilest and most unworthy. and yet If he
comes with his two believing witnesses. the
( officer may proceed to
9 COUNT AND CERTIFY ACCORDINGLY.
The law makes the certificate of this dis
trict officer a voucher to be honored by the
! treasury OF the Territory upon presenta-
: tion, and whatever of doubt or suspicion
there may be of it's genuineness there is no
!, provision for investigation and delay, or
, for to the action to be taken in order to
3 detect the overreaching avarice of the un-
| scrupulous fabricator. recommend that
!. it this law, or anything of it's kind is to be
l continued, that you carefully digest and re.
3 cast it's structure and place about it such safe
J guards and restrictions as will more effect
ually save the Territory from fraud and
, peculation through it's liberal offerings and
{; provide suitable punishment for every
crime committed in seeking to obtain the
t munifcence of this law. Moreover, if it is
your sense of justice and fairr ess to the
taxpayers of the Territory that this law
shall continue with all it's exhausting force
upon the public treasury, then the neces-
sity is upon you, and you should at this
extra session pass q law whereby money
enough beyond the present resources will
come into the treasury to pay it's de-
mands.
THE ORDINARY EXPENSES NECESSARY
to carry on the government, and the cost
OF caring for the insane, supporting GRIM
inals, and the cost of their prosecution,
are burdens upon the treasury which must
be met; and just in this connection it may
be stated that the cost of taking care of
those adjudged insane and for pros secuting
and supporting the criminals, is swelliny at
a most rapid rate every month. There is
no question in my mind but the insane of
this Territory are, under our present sys-
tenn of care for them, being humanely and
well nursed and cared for; but the cost is
enormous and excessively high. Ir,com-
mend that you formulate bill and pass
it, making provision for the purchase OF
suitable grounds and the erection of build
ings there, properly adapted to the pur-
poses of an asylum, and for the reception
and care therein OF that unfortunate class
of our fellow beings. There is nothing in
all the charms OF American civilization
more noble, and which shines as brighter
star, than the lavish hands with which
which States, cities, towns and commuui-
ties all over this country, teeming with it's
millions of people, have given money,
erected buildings, supplied comforts, ana
purchased the very highest order of medi
| cal skill and nursing for those OF our
SUFFERING BROTHERS AND SISTERS.
Montana's people are not free from this
sad malady. We have in our midst the
same sad garments of distress enshrouding
many families, and the number is increas-
ing at an alarming rate. Duty to them,
duty to ourselves and to the government
we have intended to preserve, and the
soundest economy as we'll, demand that
you shall inaugurate this great benefaction
and provide for its pushing forward to
completion. l shall most cheerfuly CO.
operate with you in this and every other
| thority, and not in violation, OF the Or
ganic Act of Congress creating this govern
| ment.
AS To TRAIN wRECKERs.
Since the adjournment OF the Legislatur
last March two most foul and murderous
attempts have been made to derail and
wreck running trains OF railroad cars
within this Territory, and each train was
at the time carrying large numbers OF hu-
man beings. This attempt to thus destroy
property, and rob and destroy human life.
is wickedness and crime of the very dark
est type, and marks the perpetrator as
public enemy. Fortunately, and almost
| miraculously, both these attempts failed
OF their design; but the attempt to MUIR
der and destroy property moved and
prompted the act. 1t is remarkable fact
! that there is no statute law OF this Terr
| tory denouncing such conduct aud fixing
| a punishment for attempts Of this charac-
ter; nor even for engaging in such attempts,
! in which train OF cars may be utterly de-
stroyed, and involving millions of dollars
worth OF property. Other Territories and
| all the States, and the Government OF the
United States, have laws that apply to all
such dastardly acts; and ask that you
! pass a most stringent law upon this sub
| ject, and fix such penalty upon the crime
as will truly represent the sentiment OF
Motana's people, and show their full de-
testation OF such crime.
AMENDING THE CRIMINAL CODE.
| also beg leave to direct your attention
to an inquiry as to whether some further
amendments of the Criminal Code are not
necessary and desirable in order to afford
railroads the full protection of the law to
which they are Justly entitled. The Crimi.
nal Code was adopted before the advent OF
railroads into the Territory, and was
| framed to meet the condition then existing
Wisely enough many provisions commonly
found in the Penal Codes OF the States With
Of
omitted from our Penal Code, leaving the
labor OF supplying them to subsequent leg
islatures, when the changed condition OF
the country should make their enactment
necessary. The rapid construction OF these
improved highways OF commerce and travel
in every part of the Territory admonishes
us that this work OF amendment ought not
to be longer delayed. This class OF prop
erty contributes largely to the public reve-
uue. and it is of right entitled to the fullest
and most ample protection OF the law.
| Without assuming to cover all the details
wherein amendments are desirable, permit
| me to suggest d few of the more important
| matters
| REQUIRING IMMEDIATE ATTENTION.
It should be made an offense to set fire
to, or burn any railroad bridge, trestle, cul-
vert or any portion OF the superstrncture
of railroad and here may particularly
direct your attention to the section OF a
statute against burning bridges now IN
force. The language as ''any bridge across
a stream" l need scarcely suggest to you
that the willful burning OF any bridge or a
highway. whether it be across stream or
not. ought to be included within the
statute. Maliciously opening or displacine
a railroad switch, or placing on the road
any obstruction, whereby train may be
derailed, or in anywise injured, should be
denounced and suitably punished. The
law of larceny should be so amended as
to include tickets emitting the holder to a
passage on any public CONVEYANCE and the
value of such ticket should be fixed at the
sum at which tickets are sold by the pro-
prietors of such conveyance to persons
desiring to travel between the points des-
ignated in the ticket. 1t has bs en- found
; expedient in some of the States to make
train conductors peace officers, and give
them authority to make arrests Tor
breaches OF the peace aud other offences
occurring on trains wit hin their charge.
They should be required to turn the Of
fender over TO the nearest sheriff on the
| 10 +bo IN W hiph